Johnson wins Children’s Museum 5K

Sunday

May 4, 2014 at 3:15 AM

By John Doylejdoyle@fosters.com

DOVER — Jim Johnson wants 2014 to be a comeback year. He’s off to a good start. Besieged by injuries that cost him most of the 2013 road-racing season, Johnson was the first of 790 runners to cross the finish line at Saturday’s Children’s Museum of New Hampshire 5K in downtown Dover, breaking the tape in 16 minutes, 26 seconds. Johnson also won the race in 2011.

Johnson, of East Madison, wasn’t feeling up to peak form on Saturday, but he was feeling good enough to best the remainder of the field by more than 1:10.

“It was pretty rough,” said Johnson, 37. “I’ve been out of the game for two years. Various injuries and I had a family, so running was put on the back burner, and I’m struggling to get back into shape. I have to lose a couple of pounds. (I) wanted to run around what I ran today or better, but I can’t complain.”

The race was the first of the annual Seacoast Road Race Series, which spans eight events and runs through late October.

Johnson’s time on Saturday was his slowest in the five times he’s run the race since it moved to Dover in 2009. His winning time in 2011 was 15:46, and he finished third in 2009 (16:13), 2010 (15:52) and 2012 (16:13). He finished second in 15:56 in 2008, the last time the race was held in Portsmouth.

“I run the Seacoast Series almost every year,” Johnson said. “Last year I didn’t run it because of injuries. So this year, even though I’m not in shape I wanted to come in and start racing this year.”

Jason Hart of Fremont finished second in 17:38.

“I knew there was no shot at catching him,” said Hart, 35. “He was too far ahead. But I was mostly concerned about the three guys behind me and keeping the distance on them. I felt very good but the hills made it tough. (This) was my best time of the year, so I’m happy.”

Miranda Fani Srour, a 2000 graduate of Dover High School, picked up her second win in less than a week, crossing the finish line on Saturday in 19:28.

“It was hard, hot and hilly,” said Fani Srour, 31. “It was (50 seconds) slower than I ran last weekend.”

Fani Srour, who now lives in Barrington, R.I., was the winner of last weekend’s Rhode Island State Police 5K Foot Pursuit in Narragansett, which she took in 18:38.

Melissa Donais of North Andover, Mass., overcame a stomach bug earlier in the week to finish second among women in 19:38.

“It was tough, but it was a good start to the spring,” said Donais, 30. “I’ve done the Great Bay 5K many years, so I decided to do the Series this year. It’s just so beautiful. The New Hampshire Seacoast is gorgeous.”

Rounding out the top five for the men were Kevin Higgins, 25, of York, Maine, in 17:55; Tom Doherty, 30, of Dover in 18:10 and Daniel Dion, 28, of Dover in 18:15.

On the women’s side, the top five was rounded out by Ashley Busa, 29, of Portsmouth in 20:23; Laurie Gaudreau, 45, of York, Maine, in 21:01, and Laura Halsey of Dover in 21:06.

The Seacoast Series resumes May 25 at the Runner’s Alley/Redhook 5K in Portsmouth.

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In Barrington, Northwood’s Derrick Hamel and Rochester’s Sarah Canney were the winners of the 20th Annual Peeper 5K. Hamel, 30, crossed the finish line in 15:53 while Canney, 31, won the women’s division in 19:46.

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